Pepsi MLS All-Star Soccer Fest Takes Over Marina Green
Published on July 30, 2003 under Major League Soccer (MLS) News Release
LONG BEACH, CA (Wednesday, July 30, 2003) - The MLS All-Star weekend traditionally offers fans of all ages soccer-themed activities that combine fun and skills. For the second consecutive season Pepsi takes the tradition to another level with the opening of a day-long soccer-theme park - the 2003 Pepsi MLS All-Star Soccer Fest. The event will take place at the Marina Green in Long Beach, CA on Friday, August 1 from 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. PT. Admission to the park is free.
"The Pepsi MLS All-Star Game is a celebration for the fans and Pepsi wanted to design an event with the fan in mind." said John Galloway, Pepsi Director of Sports & Grassroots. "The Pepsi MLS Soccer Fest achieves this goal through player and fan interaction, instructional clinics and exciting interactive games that will bring out the best MLS has to offer."
The Soccer Fest set-up is a soccer fan's dream come true, with interactive entertainment for the entire family. Those in attendance can win prizes by participating in a variety of skill challenges including: Speed Kick, Obstacle Course, Human Foosball, Target Kick, Inflatable Slides, 4-v-4 competitions, RadioShack Zip Zap Race Course and a juggling competition. The event will also host another edition of MLS' official national soccer skills competition: Pepsi MLS Dribble, Pass & Score(tm) (boys and girls 6-14 years of age). What's more, not only can supporters test their soccer skills with various interactive challenges but they can also rub shoulders with the top players in MLS today.
Of 19 MLS All-Stars selected to the Saturday gameday roster, 13 are scheduled to be on hand for the Pepsi Soccer Fest. Among the names of players who will provide soccer clinics and autograph sessions are: Landon Donovan (San Jose Earthquakes), DaMarcus Beasley (Chicago Fire), Ante Razov (Chicago Fire), Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew), Clint Mathis (MetroStars), Carlos Ruiz (Los Angeles Galaxy), Hong Myung Bo (Los Angeles Galaxy), Zach Thornton (Chicago Fire), Amado Guevara (MetroStars), Eddie Pope (MetroStars), Ryan Nelsen (D.C. United), Kyle Martino (Columbus Crew) and Carlos Bocanegra (Chicago Fire). Also on hand for the event will be other MLS guest players: Brian Dunseth (Columbus Crew), Duncan Oughton (Columbus Crew), Alex Pineda Chacon (Los Angeles Galaxy) and Mauricio Cienfuegos (Los Angeles Galaxy). Between 3:00-3:15pm Beasley and Donovan will co-host an interactive Q&A session with fans at the Pepsi Stage on the grounds of the Marina Green. Also making an appearance will be legendary midfielder, former MLS player and current MLS Ambassador Carlos "El Pibe" Valderrama, who will interact with fans and sign autographs (2:00pm - 3:00pm).
Among other events to take place at the Pepsi Soccer Fest is a training clinic offered by the U.S. Paralympic Team at 5:15pm. The squad, which takes on its Brazilian counterparts in an exhibition match on Saturday at The Home Depot Center (10:00am) on the road to the 2004 Paralympic Games in Greece, will demonstrate a typical practice session with soccer drills. The U.S. team will also conduct a combine earlier in the day on Friday at The Home Depot Center (10:00am to 1:00pm).
A host of MLS sponsors will set up booths offering interactive events and product samples including: Pepsi, Nestle Milo, Gatorade, Futbol Mundial, Bally's Total Fitness, ADT, MBNA, Panasonic, Kohl's and RadioShack. The National Education Association (NEA), an MLS partner, will also sponsor a reading booth where kids can take a reading break from the soccer action as players read to Soccer Fest participants.
The all-day event will take place against a musical background with a live DJ on-site throughout the day on the Pepsi Stage. The musical highlight of the day will be live performances by six up-and-coming Los Angeles bands: Holy Hydraulics, Liqdzunshine, Remy De La Mora, Portable, Ornj. and Come and Go.
The following are details of the Pepsi MLS All-Star Soccer Fest:
WHAT: 2003 Pepsi MLS All-Star Soccer Fest
WHEN: Friday, August 1, 2002 - 9:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET
WHERE: Marina Green - 450 East Shoreline Drive - Long Beach, CA 90802
Directions to the Marina Green from North:
1. Take I-405 South toward Long Beach.
2. Merge onto I-710 South toward Long Beach.
3. Exit Shoreline Dr. toward Downtown/ Conv. Center
4. Merge onto W. Shoreline Dr.
Directions to the Marina Green from South:
1. Take I-405 North toward Long Beach.
2. Merge onto I-710 South toward Long Beach.
3. Exit Shoreline Dr. toward Downtown/ Conv. Center
4. Merge onto W. Shoreline Dr.
Event schedule for the 2003 Pepsi MLS All-Star Soccer Fest (all times Pacific):
9:00AM: Pepsi MLS All-Star Soccer Fest begins
9:45AM: Brian Dunseth (Columbus Crew) on stage (Pepsi Stage)
10:00AM: Soccer Clinic with Brian Dunseth (Clinic Area)
11:00AM: Juggling Event (Clinic Area)
11:15AM: Holy Hydraulics Live (Pepsi Stage)
12:00PM: Duncan Oughton (Columbus Crew) on stage (Pepsi Stage)
12:15PM: Liqdzunshine Live (Pepsi Stage)
12:00PM: Soccer clinic with Duncan Oughton (Clinic Area)
1:15PM: King of the Field (Clinic Area)
1:15PM: Remy De La Mora Live (Pepsi Stage)
2:00PM: Amado Guevara autograph signing (RadioShack booth)
2:00PM: Eddie Pope & Ryan Nelsen autograph signing (Milo Booth)
2:00PM: Kyle Martino (Columbus Crew) & Alex Pineda Chacon (Los Angeles Galaxy) autograph signing (NEA booth)
2:00PM: Zach Thornton (Chicago Fire) autograph signing (Pepsi DPS area)
2:00PM: Jaime Motta (Telemundo) autograph signing (Panasonic booth)
2:00PM: Landon Donovan (San Jose Earthquakes) at the Pepsi Dribble, Pass & Score (Pepsi booth)
2:00PM: Carlos Valderrama (MLS Ambassador) autograph signing (Pepsi booth)
2:30PM: Soccer clinic with Kyle Martino (Columbus Crew) (Clinic Area)
3:00PM: Carlos Bocanegra (Chicago Fire) autograph signing (RadioShack booth)
3:00PM: Clint Mathis (MetroStars) autograph signing (Panasonic booth)
3:00PM: DaMarcus Beasley (Chicago Fire) and Landon Donovan (San Jose Earthquakes) on stage (Pepsi Stage)
3:15PM: DaMarcus Beasley (Chicago Fire) and Ante Razov (Chicago Fire) autograph signing (Pepsi booth)
3:15PM: Soccer clinic with Alex Pineda Chacon (Los Angeles Galaxy) (Clinic Area)
3:15PM: Portable Live (Pepsi Stage)
4:00PM: Clint Mathis (MetroStars) autograph signing (Gatorade booth)
4:00PM: Frankie Hejduk (Columbus Crew) and Hong Myung Bo (Los Angeles Galaxy) autograph signing (RadioShack booth)
4:00PM: Carlos Bocanegra (Chicago Fire) autograph signing (ADT booth)
4:15PM: Ornj. Live (Pepsi Stage)
5:00PM: Mauricio Cienfuegos (Los Angeles Galaxy) and Carlos Ruiz (Los Angeles Galaxy) autograph signing (RadioShack booth)
5:15PM: U.S. Paralympic Team Clinic (Clinic Area)
5:15PM: Come and Go Live (Pepsi Stage)
6:30PM: Doors close
Major League Soccer Stories from July 30, 2003
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- Pepsi MLS All-Star Soccer Fest Takes Over Marina Green - MLS
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- D.C. United's Hristo Stoitchkov Receives Green Card - D.C. United
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